Latest releases
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1,981 releases
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Smyth welcomes Westminster intervention to block Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Bill
TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth welcomes the UK Government's plan to lay a Section 35 order blocking Scotland's Gender Reform Bill, arguing it protects women and girls and accusing Alliance's Stephen Farry and Eóin Tennyson of hypocrisy.
Disability and equality Constitutional affairs Issue: Section 35 order to block Scotland's Gender Reform Bill Original release: Smyth welcomes Westminster intervention to block Nicola Sturgeon’s Gender Reform Bill (opens in a new tab)
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Green Party welcomes Audit Office intervention in fuel poverty hardship fund
Green Party councillor Anthony Flynn welcomes the Audit Office's decision to investigate Belfast City Council's use of community groups to distribute fuel poverty hardship fund vouchers. He says the Greens had warned about capacity risks and called for a review of those groups, and criticises the…
Social security and welfare Local government Issue: Audit Office request for Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund independent review Original release: Green Party welcomes Audit Office intervention in fuel poverty hardship fund (opens in a new tab)
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Retained EU Law Bill threatens gender equality in the workplace, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, due at its remaining Commons stages, threatens workplace protections such as holiday pay, maternity leave and equal pay, and risks women's rights. She says the party will oppose it.
Disability and equality Economy and employment Issue: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill Commons stages Original release: Retained EU Law Bill threatens gender equality in the workplace, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Audit Office requests copy of report on funding awards after Alliance raises concerns about roll-out of Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund
Alliance's Belfast City Councillor Sam Nelson welcomes the Audit Office's request for a copy of an independent review into Belfast City Council's use of Local Strategic Partners for the Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund and urges it to be completed quickly.
Local government Public finance and taxation Issue: Audit Office request for Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund independent review Original release: Audit Office requests copy of report on funding awards after Alliance raises concerns about roll-out of Fuel Poverty Hardship Fund (opens in a new tab)
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Nicholl marks Martin Luther King Day and says his fight against racial inequality is still just as relevant today
Alliance Spokesperson for Migration Kate Nicholl MLA marks Martin Luther King Day, saying his fight against racial inequality remains as relevant today. She cites the 2022 killing of Keenan Anderson by Los Angeles police and says Black communities face violence from both police and white…
Disability and equality Justice and policing Original release: Nicholl marks Martin Luther King Day and says his fight against racial inequality is still just as relevant today (opens in a new tab)
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Belfast is the 50th most congested city in the world - Cllr Mal O'Hara
Green Party councillor Malachi O'Hara responds to a report ranking Belfast 50th most congested city worldwide, blaming successive Executives for failing to invest in public transport and cut car dependence. He says the Assembly's 2020 climate emergency declaration has produced little action, and…
Infrastructure and transport Environment and climate Issue: Belfast ranked 50th most congested city worldwide report Original release: Belfast is the 50th most congested city in the world - Cllr Mal O'Hara (opens in a new tab)
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Energy Support Payment
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland publishes information on the £600 energy support payment, explaining it combines the Energy Bills Support Scheme and the Alternative Fuel Payment and is automatic for domestic meter customers. It also sets out how direct debit, credit and prepay customers receive…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: £600 energy support payment scheme details for Northern Ireland households Original release: Energy Support Payment (opens in a new tab)
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de Faoite: Hub will be transformative for LGBT+ community
SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite says a proposed LGBT+ hub in Belfast would be transformative for the city's LGBT+ community after the council launched a public consultation on it. He encourages the public to respond to the consultation.
Disability and equality Local government Issue: Belfast City Council LGBT+ hub public consultation launch Original release: de Faoite: Hub will be transformative for LGBT+ community (opens in a new tab)
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Steps need to be taken to prevent 'low income' crisis developing, says Armstrong
Alliance spokesperson Kellie Armstrong MLA calls for steps to stop the cost of living crisis turning into a longer low-income crisis, after meeting the former chair of an advisory panel that reviewed Department for Communities welfare mitigation measures. She says the panel's recommendations could…
Social security and welfare Economy and employment Issue: Welfare mitigations advisory panel review recommendations Original release: Steps need to be taken to prevent 'low income' crisis developing, says Armstrong (opens in a new tab)
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Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues
Alliance MLAs John Blair and Kate Nicholl say they met DAERA's Permanent Secretary and senior team about pressures from having no Minister, including climate and environmental protection and budgets. Blair calls on the DUP to end its Assembly boycott and reform the institutions.
Environment and climate Issue: Alliance meeting with DAERA Permanent Secretary on Ministerial vacancy Original release: Alliance MLAs meet with DAERA to discuss environmental protection, budgetary pressures and other issues (opens in a new tab)
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Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban
SDLP Climate Change Spokesperson Mark H Durkan urges the North to move forward with a ban on single-use plastics after England announced one would proceed before year's end. He points to Scotland's ban, Wales' plans and the New Decade, New Approach pledge on plastic pollution.
Environment and climate Issue: England single-use plastics ban announcement January 2023 Original release: Durkan urges action on single-use plastics ban (opens in a new tab)
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Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl
Alliance MLA Kate Nicholl says Northern Ireland's childcare system is broken and threatening working mothers' incomes amid the cost of living crisis. She calls for restoring the Assembly and delivering a fully costed Early Learning and Childcare Strategy urgently, and urges the DUP to end its…
Education Economy and employment Original release: Unfit childcare system threatening income of working mothers in the midst of cost of living crisis, says Nicholl (opens in a new tab)
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Tory government savings in reduced energy support should be given to restored Executive – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says savings from the British government's reduced energy support for households in Northern Ireland should go to a restored Executive to fund home insulation and modifications that permanently cut energy bills. She calls the cut cruel and says Sinn Féin is ready to…
Economy and employment Public finance and taxation Issue: British government reduction in Northern Ireland energy support from January 2023 Original release: Tory government savings in reduced energy support should be given to restored Executive – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence
First Minister Designate Michelle O’Neill invites MLAs of all parties to attend a silent vigil at the front of Parliament Buildings at 2 pm on Thursday 5 January, to honour Natalie McNally – who was murdered while pregnant – and all victims of gender‑based violence.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Issue: Natalie McNally murder vigil Original release: O’Neill invites MLAs to join silent vigil for Natalie McNally and victims of gender-based violence (opens in a new tab)
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2023: Socialism Is The Answer To A World In Crisis
People Before Profit's New Year message looks back at 2022, arguing that inflation, climate inaction, reproductive rights, the war in Ukraine and Irish housing and health crises show capitalism is failing, and calls for Ireland's first left-wing government.
Economy and employment International affairs Original release: 2023: Socialism Is The Answer To A World In Crisis (opens in a new tab)
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TUV warns against extension of “Gender Recognition” legislation to Northern Ireland
TUV spokesperson Lorna Smyth criticises Alliance MP Stephen Farry for welcoming Scotland's Gender Recognition Reform Bill and wanting it extended to Northern Ireland. She claims the bill risks women's safe spaces, allows sex offenders to apply for recognition, and should be repealed.
Disability and equality Justice and policing Issue: Scotland Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill passed Original release: TUV warns against extension of “Gender Recognition” legislation to Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
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£600 energy payment confirmation relief to people struggling to pay bills – Archibald
Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says confirmation that the £600 energy payment will arrive from January as a single payment will ease pressure on households struggling with heating and power bills. She calls for urgent clarity on voucher arrangements for prepaid meter customers and blames DUP and…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: British Government confirmation of £600 energy payment timing from January Original release: £600 energy payment confirmation relief to people struggling to pay bills – Archibald (opens in a new tab)
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Imperative that the energy bill support scheme is delivered promptly - Allen
East Belfast UUP MLA and Communities spokesperson Andy Allen MBE cautiously welcomes the announcement that energy bill support for Northern Ireland households will start in January 2023. He calls for a question and answer guide from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and…
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: Energy bill support scheme January 2023 start for Northern Ireland households Original release: Imperative that the energy bill support scheme is delivered promptly - Allen (opens in a new tab)
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Armstrong says urgent clarity needed over energy payments after more details emerge
Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong calls for urgent clarity on the UK Government's £600 energy payment, saying direct debit customers get paid first while the most vulnerable, including those in temporary accommodation, are left at the back of the queue.
Economy and employment Social security and welfare Issue: British Government confirmation of £600 energy payment timing from January Original release: Armstrong says urgent clarity needed over energy payments after more details emerge (opens in a new tab)
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‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse
SDLP Representative for Cusher Emmajayne McKernan urges people experiencing domestic abuse to seek support over the festive period, after a meeting with Women's Aid. She directs people to Armagh Down Women's Aid for confidential help.
Justice and policing Disability and equality Original release: ‘Don’t suffer in silence this Christmas’ McKernan message to those suffering domestic abuse (opens in a new tab)